LAST week in the National Assembly, I hosted an event with Kidney Wales to launch The Rhodri Morgan Life Ethics Fellowship.

The Fellowship, funded by Kidney Wales, with the College of Human and Health Sciences of Swansea University and Wales Kidney Research Unit, is in memory of the work of former First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

Rhodri was a patron of Kidney Wales and attended the Cardiff Walk for Life and many other events as an MP and an AM. He helped kick-start the debate that saw Wales become the first country in the UK to introduce an ‘opt out’ system for organ donation in 2015.

The Rhodri Morgan Fellowship offers an opportunity to investigate ethics involving paediatric organ donation, transplantation and dialysis and is open to anyone living or working in Wales. It is a wonderful way to remember Rhodri and his commitment to organ donation.

Organ donors provide an important gift to many people who, without their help would not have had the chance to live a full and healthy life. That is why I was glad that Colin and Bet Burgess from Barry- who have been personally involved in organ donation– were able to attend and speak at the launch. They have been great allies of ours throughout the organ donation debate in Wales.

I was also delighted to welcome Colin, his wife Bet Burgess and Gaynor Taylor to the Kidney Wales Ambassadors’ Dinner on 19th October, where another Barry resident, Kate Lawless, received a standing ovation following her inspiring speech.

Also last week, I welcomed to the Senedd the Barry Friends of Tenovus group who were celebrating their 50th anniversary.

Over the years the Barry group has organised many events and raised awareness and vital funds for Tenovus cancer care. I congratulated them on this significant anniversary and thanked them for the wonderful work they have done in our Barry community.

Finally, recycling figures published last week for 2016/17 show that Wales continues to lead the way in the UK when it comes to recycling our waste. In the 20 years since devolution, Wales has gone from being one of the worst countries in terms of how much we recycle, to the third best in the world.

This is a huge achievement and is thanks to householders and local authorities’ commitment to recycle as much waste as possible.

Jane Hutt AM